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Using Twitter (and other social media) to share your research

November 2019

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Today’s presentation

• Focused on Twitter• Best practices• Developing a strategy • Content ideas• University guidelines• Getting started with an account

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Social Media at University of Iowa Health Care

@uihealthcare | @uichildrens | @iowamed

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“Twitter is now the No. 1 place I go to connect with my peers in infection prevention, to share ideas, and to learn from others.”

Jorge Salinas, MDHospital EpidemiologistClinical Associate Professor of Internal MedicineUniversity of Iowa Health Care

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Why should researchers tweet?

• Connect with other researchers• Increased citations of your work?• Raise your profile as an expert• Connect with funding agencies• Engage in conversations (Twitter chats)• Networking• Recruitment• Conference participation

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/codi.14719#.XPeUllLSnLM.twitter

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Twitter 101

• Limited to 280 characters• Lifespan of a tweet is very short• Hashtags organize topics – “trending”• Retweeting = sharing• Tagging• Searchable• Can’t edit a tweet• “Lists” and “Topics”• Great place to connect with experts

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The anatomy of a tweet

http://bulletin.facs.org/2016/06/the-surgeon-and-social-media-twitter-as-a-tool-for-practicing-surgeons/

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Best practices for Twitter

• Post regularly and engage with your audience• Keep text short and sweet• Stick to one specific message• Use compelling visuals• Use relevant hashtags (no more than 2)• Retweet and follow to grow your audience• Understand what content your audience values• Encourage two-way communication• Review analytics often and make adjustments

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Types of accounts

• Personal account – personal topics or opinions

• Professional account – topics within your profession or expertise

• Departments/teams/groups• Companies and brands

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Developing a strategy

• Target audience (primary, secondary)• Goals• Types of content• Consistent voice• Plan for visuals• Review/approval process• Responding• Linking to the web• Content calendar – map out 60 days• Success metrics• Frequency

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Content ideas

• Take the audience behind the scenes – exclusivity

• Content that shows impact • Content that shows collaboration• New technology• Grants• Papers• Events• Opportunities

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Twitter demo

1. Write your own tweet2. Retweet someone else3. Engage with other tweets

• Advanced search

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An exchange of opinions

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Sticky situations

• Don’t feed the trolls• Take the high road• Have thick skin• Ignoring a reply is an option• Contact MarCom for support/recommendation

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Recent example

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Another recent example

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University guidelines

• Follow UI policies: social media use, internet use, and use of the UI name• Review UI Health Care Social Media Guidelines

– Professional account: Be transparent in bio about relationship with UI– Don’t offer specific medical advice or disclose information about patients,

research participants, or students– New accounts: Submit the Social Media Account Request Form– Meeting to discuss strategy, MarCom provides recommendation– Build content plan for first 60 days– MarCom has administrative rights to all new accounts– New: Regular review every 3-6 months

• Use MarCom as a helpful resource

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Need to knows

• You are representing the University of Iowa• It’s all public – even if the tweet is deleted (screenshots)• Recruiting for participants? You need IRB approval. • Follow copyright laws• Animal research – media security policy

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Getting started with a professional account

• Draft your strategy• Get feedback from MarCom• Pick a username/handle and name for your account• Write your bio with your future followers in mind

– Use hashtags– Include where you’re located (@uihealthcare, @iowamed, #uiowa)– Disclaimer (for personal/professional accounts)

• Start creating content, according to your strategy• Engage with others and follow accounts• Review metrics often and make adjustments

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Tagging

• Journal• Funding organizations• National organizations• Peers• Our main accounts: @uihealthcare, @iowamed, @uichildrens

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Who to follow / How to find followers

• University of Iowa-based accounts (search common terms, hashtags)• Journals• National organizations• People/accounts that use relevant hashtags• Participate in Twitter chats• At conferences – search by hashtag• Tip: Love an account? See who they follow.

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Free resources

• Health care hashtags and Twitter chats: Symplur

• Images: NIH, CDC• Twitter dashboard: TweetDeck• Link shortening: bit.ly

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Final tips

• Use MarCom as a resource - questions, ideas, problems, etc.• Use #UIowaResearch, #uihealthcare, #uiowa• Tag @uihealthcare, @iowamed, and @uichildrens when applicable• Let us know when cool things are happening• Follow our accounts

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Q&A

Questions?

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Thank You

Jeff RaaschHead of Content

Marketing and CommunicationsUniversity of Iowa Health Care

jeff-raasch@uiowa.edu@jeffraasch